Newcastle led a ramp-extended performance on Sunday afternoon and returned to the Premier League top four, charging towards a 4-1 runaway with Manchester United.
Supported by vocal home support at St. James Park, Newcastle showed no indication of the issue despite Eddie Howe being away from the dugout following a hospital omission at the beginning of the week.
As Italy’s mid-year Sandro Tonari produced a sublime volley, Newcastle seemed in the mood to make a heavyweight statement when he opened up a score midway through the first half.
Alejandro Garnacho may have dragged United Level eight minutes before the break, but Newcastle simply ramped after returning from the interval.
With Harvey Burns producing a classy 15-minute brace, skipper Bruno Guimarès placed the cherries on top of the cake as the Brazilian talisman tapped the house after a costly mistake from his replacement goalkeeper Atrey Bay Indeal.
In the middle of what became a famous fairy tale, Newcastle returns to the top four and chases after it to book tickets for another iconic Champions League.
As for Man United, the Reds may have a strong aim for the second leg meeting against Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday, but Reuben Amorim’s men are preparing themselves for another public backlash in the coming days.
On the afternoon when Newcastle issued a major Champions League statement, we saw the main topics from Sunday’s showdown at St. James Park.
Newcastle expands fairy tales
Last month they finished waiting 70 years for domestic silverware, as they are the Cornd Cup champions, thanks to their famous 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Wembley in Newcastle.
Some may have been worried that Sunday’s hosts may have shown signs of an emotional hangover when they returned from an international break in March, but Newcastle just kept shining.
Here, ramping into the second half and laying out the real marker, Magpies scored all of their past four Premier League appearances with a 10-2 tally score.
Having risen up in the rankings and spiked, and now sitting in the driver’s seat and booking tickets for the lucrative Champions League, Newcastle has found a mood around St. James’ Park at the height of the Red Hot.
They now sit only one point drift, moving into bronze medal position, as Nottingham Forest suffered a final 1-0 loss when they welcomed Everton to the city ground on Saturday afternoon.
Pressure on the shoulder of Amorim
After Amorim’s arrival, there may have been a lot of excitement around Old Trafford in November, but Manchester United were unable to find any kind of stability under Portuguese tacticians.
Some sections of Old Trafford Support, completely blown away at St. James Park, are beginning to wonder whether Amorim’s appointment is the right decision by United’s new board of directors.
They eventually had to settle into a 2-2 deadlock with French costume Lyon, which delayed frustration early in the week, with Amorim facing what could be a career-determining showdown when he returned to Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Sticking firmly in the lower half of the Premier League table, United have won the pair of previous nine appearances across all competitions, with Amorim’s shoulder pressure reaching boiling point.
With the public decision to drop Andreonana ahead of his Sunday trip at St. James Park, United’s pressure boss has a major headache with the notable defensive issues on his part.
Magpie Free Score Attack
Newcastle may not have been able to find much offensive fluidity before the famous EFL Cup victory on March 16th, but the hosts on Sunday found an astonishing free-scoring touch in the final third.
Impressive sense Alexander Isaac may not have been able to add to his 20 Premier League goals here, but he did not slow down the Champions League chaser.
Alongside the welcome of England’s International Anthony Gordon from the bench here, the Harvey Barnes appear to be batting top gear with the crucial limes of the season.
In addition to riding on the scoresheet, the former Leicester ace scored three goals in his consecutive Premier League appearances when Newcastle stormed the path to a 3-0 victory with relegated scratcher Leicester on Monday night.
Newcastle, who scored 12 goals in his final five meetings with Premier League opposition, enjoys 2025’s most clinical spell.
Match Report
Newcastle: Pope, Trippia, Charle, Byrne, Libramento, Bruno Guimarès, Tonari, Jorington, Murphy, Isaac, Burns
submarine: Wilson, Claffs, Gordon, Miley, Longstaff
Manchester United: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Landelof, Joro, Amass, Dalot, Eriksen, Ugart, Garden, Fernandes.
submarine: Hojlund, Mount, Dorgu, Mainoo, Shaw
the goal: Newcastle: Tonari (24′), Burns (49′, 64′), Bruno Guimares (77′) – Manchester United: Garnacho (37′)
Yellow Card: Yoro, Ugarte
Red card: n/a
Judgment: Chris Kabana